PEARS AND POTATOES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5636, 9 December 1879, Page 6

PEARS AND POTATOES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In your number of 29th ultimo there appears an article headed "Pears and Potatoes." As to pears grafted to the white thorn, 1 may mention that several years ago I received a few young pear trees, said to be very superior. This they turned out to be. One of them in three years, after being planted in choice ground, grew freely, and tave four pears, being very like in shape to the Jargonelle, tut much larger, of beautiful colour and shape, and of the most agreeable flavour, rich and mellow. Next year, there was abundance of flourish, but no fruit. The stem never grew in proportion to the graft, and is sail unfruitful. I grafted from this tree G or S scions on some robust white thorns, at a distance of 20 feet apart. These grew well for three years, when all of them died off. This is all I can say of my experience of grafting the pears on white thorn. 1 think the tree is on a thorn, but it ha 3 not thrown np any suckers. As to the remarks on the white blossom potatoes, I|may remark that I cannot understand how these are disliked. In England, in Scotland, and Ireland, they are liked in any variety, and it is by the blossom alone that many lots are known and kept pure, by plucking out coloured blossom plants. The old Irish ccp were of two different colours, white and pinkish blossoms. These were generally planted s«parately. The white blossom cup always brought the highest price for seed, especially in the counties of Limerick and Kerry. I may remark that the best early potato, for cropping or flavour, I have met with is the lapstone kidney. This always has with me a pure white blossom, and for a late round potato one of the best I know is a red potato with whits blossom called Sutton's flour-ball. Two years ago I got a few potatoes, which were grown from some potatoes got from an American barque. This is red-skinned, very white and flowery, a great cropper, and a good keeper. I got no name with them. Last year I showed them to that eminent horticulturist in Auckland, Mr. Brewin, who said it was the American snowilake. Its blossom is pure white with me.—l am, &c, Helensville, Dec. 1. Correspondent.